Tony Gregory
Question:153 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether all persons voting in elections should be required to produce identification. [12365/04]
View answerThursday, 29 April 2004
Questions (150)
Written answers
Existing legal provisions governing the right to vote already provide that the returning officer or the presiding officer may, of his own volition, or if so required by a personation agent present in the polling station, request any person at the time of applying to vote to produce a specified identity document. If the person fails to produce such a document or if the returning officer or presiding officer is not satisfied that the person is the person to whom the document relates, they shall not be permitted to vote.
The returning officer or presiding officer may, and if so requested by a personation agent present in the polling station, ask a number of questions or administer an oath or affirmation to an elector on their eligibility to vote. Electoral law also provides that it is an offence, punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both, to attempt to vote using the name of another person.
In further support of the above arrangements, provision is being included in the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004 to prohibit the taking of or interference with a polling card or the use of a polling card at a polling station that is not addressed to the person presenting it.